Only 1 week today till the shortest day...

How many of the commuters on here are still doing it and how many have hung up their shorts for the season?

Cold toes are and the odd fishtailing moments are making it a tad scarier, but still the hot shower and cup of coffee that greets me (well, that I make myself) once I've arrived almost makes it worth it.

Apart from petrol seriously back over a pound, what else drives you all out in the dark?

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ctznsmith[92 posts]7 years ago

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Still commuting, it really hasn't been that cold yet in Leeds. Only one day that was 'icy' and no real sign of it on the roads.

The 'road juice' is worse, going into the toilets at work and suddenly realising you've been sat at your desk with black/brown specks of dirt all over your face!

habit drives me, it wouldn't occur to me to do anything else, though these days I don't have that long a commute.

Also I started my commuting career in the winter and, black ice apart, I've never found it that bad, in fact winter riding has a lot going for it - less chance of over heating for a start. I always recommend it as a good time to start commuting on the basis that you experience the worst right at the start - so you know that if you can cope with it the rest of the year should be a relative doddle.

The hardest time in these parts is usually February, when it's cold, wet, and windy pretty much all at the same time… all the time

agree with you there..although a good selection of winter clothing makes a big difference. waterproof socks with thermal liners have been essentials for me these last few years, and a good merino base layer..

The winter hasn't put me off. I only commute a short distance but that's still far enough to have to pack a spare pair of boxers and jeans to change into at work after the others gets soaked with road crud and rain....I should really fit a mud guard or wear some over-trousers but laziness stops me from deploying either of those tactics

Its a strange thought (to us down under) to see you talking about the middle of winter......... we are a week out from the LONGEST DAY in NZ and our weather always settles down and provides us with our great summer for riding! B)

Being married to a kiwi and having lived in wellington for quite a while I'm ree eealy feeling that. And suspect if the plan to move back next year goes ahead we'll be getting and edinburgh winter followed by a ChCh one. Brr.

T'was -2°C and dry in Shrewsbury today, but it didn't feel as bad as I had expected. Stiff headwind all the way to work made it something of a grind (it's uphill too).

I have found that the idea of the cold is worse than the reality, as I warm up after a mile or so (fingertips excepted). One thing that helps is getting dressed in clothes warmed on the radiator a few minutes before leaving the house. Toasty. I also don't have to scrape ice off my car then sit in a fridge with misting windows until the heater finally warms it up... by which time I'm most of the way to work yet still feel cold.

Whatever the weather or the time of year, I'm always happier getting to work on the bike, and I can easily justify that big bowl of porridge.

Know what you mean Simon, I was out first thing this morning buying our Christmas treet (actually frozen in a solid green lump - hasn't thawed yet) but I didn't find the ride in that bad at all - and it is the best part of a mile downhill (proper downhill too) from the front door but it didn't feel anywhere near as cold as I was expecting. Luckily

Had my first off today at the end of my road. Wonder if any of the neighbours were watching. Would have looked quite comedy as I did a little shimmy on my bike, I managed to save the back kicking out twice before I went down.

I've been walking the bike to the end of the road for the last couple of days. Sheet ice on and it's on a hill with a main road at the end made we think twice - rode up nice and spinny on the back wheel but not quite as hardcore as riding down I'd have to admit.

Spoke too soon took the long hill on the way home, thought it had thawed a bit, interesting line on the hill were the wet bit stopped and the frozen bit started. Followed by half a mile of sideways moment fun… which really was fun only to be confronted with a a mile of flat bit that was just sheet ice, bit of steep off camber found me out. Big rucksack + 17in laptop + Kryptonite New York + my fat arse = a soft landing.

Managed 20 miles of icy back lanes on the way home last night without incident, pulled up outside the house chuffed with my supreme bike handling skills and promptly hit the deck like a sack of spuds in front of a group of carol singers!! muppet